Royal Philips recently partnered with cloud-based platform OpenDoctor to offer radiology practices the ability to let patients schedule their own exams, the companies announced Tuesday.
Under the agreement, the Amsterdam-based imaging giant plans to integrate OpenDoctor’s capabilities into Philips’ own patient management solution. Together, they hope to transform scheduling, helping radiologists reduce unused imaging slots, improve sign-up speed, optimize patients’ readiness for their appointments, and bolster clinician and consumer satisfaction.
“Better prepared staff and patients can result in a higher proportion of first-time-right scans and subsequent diagnoses, leading to better patient outcomes and improved departmental efficiencies,” Kees Wesdorp, chief business leader of precision diagnosis at Philips, said in a statement.
The scheduling platform allows patients to select appointment slots via their smartphone while also helping practices maximize the availability of staffers and imaging locations. Consumers can also use the mobile tool to complete intake questionnaires ahead of time, receive appointment reminders, and navigate to their exam.
Siemens PET/CT scanner cleared
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently cleared Siemens’ new positron emission tomography/computed tomography scanner for clinical care and research, the company announced Monday.
The Biograph Vision Quadra offers several technological features Siemens says will allow for “significantly increased” sensitivity. It also lets providers image patients dynamically from the top of their head to the thigh, with more anatomical coverage in a single position than a standard PET/CT scanner.
Such faster scanning lower patients’ radiation dose while help docs better understand the disease, Siemens detailed March 8.
“The Biograph Vision Quadra breaks through current clinical scanner limitations by simultaneously imaging all vital organs in a single field of view,” John Khoury, head of the molecular imaging, said in a statement.
Varian CEO stepping down
In other Siemens-related news, Varian CEO Dow Wilson is retiring from the role after more than 16 years with the company. His tenure will come to a close coinciding with Siemens completing its $16.4 billion acquisition of the cancer care firm, officials announced earlier this month.
Chief Operating Officer Chris Toth will assume the role and become chief executive of the Varian business segment once the transaction closes. Wilson plans to stay on as a special advisor after stepping down.
“We have made incredible advances in the fight against cancer, and our transformational combination with Siemen Healthineers will bring us even closer to achieving our vision of a world without fear of cancer,” Wilson said in a statement.
Siemens scored regulatory approval for the blockbuster deal in February and hopes to close the transaction in 2021’s first half.
Rapid fire
A few more radiology-related vendor news items of note this month, in rapid fashion:
- On Tuesday, Carestream launched its first cesium glass-free detector for medical imaging.
- Teleradiology giant vRad recently received its 23rd patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, with the latest using artificial intelligence to improve business operations and patient care.
- Ambra Health has launched an educational series to help radiology providers give online imaging access to patients and referrers.
- And finally, Bracco and the Society for Advanced Body Imaging partnered earlier this month to launch a new mentorship program.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.